Colored globe support for electric lanterns



Oct. 27 1942. V w. I VLMOXLEY 2,300,304

COLORED .GLOBB SUPPORT FOR ELECTRIC LANTERNS Filed June 25, 1941 Patented Oct. 27, 1942 COLOR-ED GLOBE SUPPORT FOR ELECTItIC LANTERNS William M. Moxley, Kansas City, Mo.

Application June 23, 1941, Serial No. 399,347

(Cl. Mil-10.63)

2 Claims.

The primary object of the present invention is to provide a very simple and efficient means for supporting a transparent globe in operative relation over the usual light bulbs of electric hand lanterns, in such manner that the lantern will show light of any desired color.

The device of my invention is of such a nature that ready access may be had to the light bulbs for the purpose of attaching or replacing the same. In like manner, the globe itself may be easily and quickly removed and replaced either for the purpose of cleanin the globe or substituting another globe for the one removed. Further objects and advantages of the invention will be set forth in the detailed description which follows.

In the accompanying drawing:

Fig. 1 is a vertical sectional view of a lantern having the device of the invention applied thereto;

Fig. 2 is an underside plan view;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary sectional view on line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

Like numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the several figuresof the drawing.

The device of the invention is applicable to many different types of lanterns. The particular type lantern that I have chosen for purposes of explanation is like that shown in my copending application, Serial No. 397,480, filed on the th day of June, 1941. Lanterns of this type have found wide favor among railroad men. Consequently, they must be very reliable in operation, because any failure of the lantern at a crucial moment might result in a serious accident.

Lanterns widely employed for railroad signaling purposes comprise a body 5, skeleton supporting base 6, cover I and swinging bail 8. A battery 9 supplies current to a pair of bulbs It], the provision of two bulbs aflording a double safeguard against failure, since, if one bulb burns out, the other will continue to burn.

All of the parts so far described are already old in the art. A bulb-carrying clip H that is mounted upon a battery retaining plate l2, provides means for carrying still a third bulb. This combination of bulb clip and battery retaining plate has been claimed in my copending application aforesaid and constitutes no part of the present invention.

The present invention is particularly directed to the provision of a globe or dome l3 of transparent or translucent material. This dome is provided with the outturned, substantially horizontal, segmental flanges It. A dome-carrying ring 15 is attached by a hinge it to the base of the lantern body 5. This ring is provided with outstanding segmental arcuate flanges ll beneath which the flanges M of the dome may be engaged by imparting a partial turning movement to the dome after its flanges have been positioned in the spaces of the ring l5 which lie between the ends of the flanges ll. This turning movement is continued until an end of a flange l4 contacts a stop l8, carried by ring l5.

An ear l9 formed upon ring [5 is slotted'for the passage of a staple-like member 251 that is carried by the base of a lantern body 5. A pin 20 holds the dome-carrying ring l5 in the closed position shown in Fig. 1. By removing this pin, the dome and ring may be swun on hinge Hi to permit access to the bulbs.

I may, if desired, provide the base of the lantern with a pin 2| adapted to enter aligned openings formed in the ring l5 and the flange M. This pin would positively prevent any accidental movement of the dome toward disengaging position as long as the dome was closed. By swinging the dome to open position upon its hinge, the pin would be disengaged from the opening and the dome could be turned to disengage it fro the flanges ll.

The dome l3 may be made of glass, Celluloid or any of the synthetic resins of a transparent or translucent nature, or any other suitable material.

It is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the precise construction set forth, but that it includes within its purview whatever changes fairly come within either the term or the spirit of the appended claims.

Having described my invention, what I claim is:

1. In a removable dome for lanterns, the combination with a dome-like body of transparent or translucent material having laterally extending segmental flanges formed thereon, of a carrier ring for said body having arcuate segmental flanges adapted to overlie the flanges of the dome and to retain the same, the spaces between the flanges of the ring permitting the entry there between of the flanges of the dome, so that the flanges of the dome may be engaged beneath the flanges of the, ring by turning movement of the dome with respect to the ring and means for securing said ring to anelectric lantern body in a position to overlie and house the bulbs of said lantern, means carried by the lantern body and projecting toward the ring and dome, said means being adapted to engage both the ring and the dome in the closed movement of the dome, to thereby prevent movement of the dome with relation to the ring as long as the dome is in closed position.

2. The combination with an electric lantern and its bulbs, of a housing for said bulbs comprising a dome-like body of colored transparent or translucent material, said body having at least two laterally extending arcuate and segmental flanges, a carrier ring for said dome comprising a ring-like body, means for hinging the ring to the lantern body, a pair of arcuate, segmental flanges carried by the ring, lying in such spaced relationto each other as to permit of the entry of the segmental flanges of the dome therebetween and being so dimensioned with respect to the dome that the flanges of the dome may be engaged therebeneath by a turning movement of the dome with respect to the ring, and fastening means carried by the ring and lantern body for holding the ring fiat against the underside of the body, a pin carried by the underside of the lantern body and adapted to traverse the ring and dome to prevent movement of the dome with respect to the ring as long as the ring is in closed position.

WILLIAM M. MOXLEY. 

